Arlys Watkins Fletcher

Our mother, Arlys Watkins Fletcher peacefully passed away on May 2, 2017 at age 83. It was a glorious reunion, I'm sure. She was born October 4, 1933 in Sunnyside, Utah to Orlan (Bones) Watkins and Carrie Marie Rasmussen. When Arlys was two years old, her mother and new baby sister, Charine Watkins, passed away. She and her sister Darla went to live with their grandparents, Frank and Isabel Watkins in Vernal. She enjoyed the years spent living with her grandparents. Her father, Orlan (Bones) married Lucille Hasler July 7, 1938 and Arlys and Darla went to live with them in Sunnyside. A few years later Harriet and Sybil were born. Arlys and Darla loved taking care of Harriet and Sybil and have continued to be close throughout the years. Later, Bones and Lucille moved their family back to Vernal. Arlys married Terry Wardle Fletcher on February 18, 1953 in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they had five children: Stacey, Terrenia , Von, Karla, and LaVita . She has been blessed with 20 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and 20 or more foster and Indian placement children. Terry passed away in 1994. She later married Gerald Lange in 2000 who then passed away in 2012. Arlys suffered with ill health most of her life. When she gave birth to her first son, Stacey, he weighed more than 10 pounds. She was hospitalized and advised not to have any more children, but she gave birth to two more children, Terrenia and Von. Arlys loved children and desperately wanted more. Her other children needed to come to her family another way. Karla and LaVita joined their family through adoption. She cared for many foster children and Indian placement students through the years. At one time she had over thirteen children living in her home. While raising her family, she completed a 3-year art course and later graduated with a bachelor's degree in Education from Utah State University. Arlys had many passions in life. She dedicated her life to genealogy. She formed a business called FORCE, Family Organization Research Computer Service. Her dream was to build family organizations in order to share information and therefore avoid duplication. She also enjoyed square dancing, camping in her motorhome, being a grandmother, taking care of others, and working with her husband and family on the ranch and in the garden. Arlys was preceded in death by her parents Orlan and Carrie Marie Watkins, Lucille Watkins, Sisters Charine Watkins, Darla Dean Lockerby, Son in law, Dale Griggs, Son Stacey Lee Fletcher, Husband Terry Wardle Fletcher, Great grandson Owen Bryant. She is survived by her sisters Harriet Wilkins and Sybil O'Brian and children Terrenia (Richard Porter), Von W Fletcher, Karla Fletcher, LaVita Cesspooch and 63 grandchildren and great grandchildren. Funeral services were held Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 11:00 am. A viewing will be held Friday, May 5 from 6-8 at the Blackburn Mortuary and prior to the funeral 9:45-10:45 at the Glines Chapel 1500 West Hwy 40. Burial will be in the Maeser Fairview Cemetery, under the care of Blackburn Vernal Mortuary.